New store promotes better health

A love of nature brought Joey Lemieux and Ellen Brakel together.

They met seeking a closer connection to the earth, while learning how to build a "yurt", a traditional nomadic shelter. As it turned out, the most valuable connection they made was to each other.

Ellen grew up in Caledon, exploring the countryside along the Credit River; at 10, Joey moved from Texas to Collingwood, where the Niagara Escarpment nurtured his love of nature. Now, with multiple degrees and certificates in health and wellness practices, the couple has opened Soaring Heart Wellness on Shelburne's Main Street.

Ellen and Joey co-created Soaring Heart Wellness from their home near Shelburne in 2006, offering healing treatments, teaching yoga and hosting workshops.

"The inspiration for the store came from the intent to offer something more to the community through love of books, health food and well-being," they say. "Shelburne with its rural roots, nice countryside and friendly people makes it an appealing place to be."

Working close to home was important, as Ellen and Joey raise their three young children, 8, 7, and 6 years old, and strive to maintain a balanced, healthy and holistic family life. "It is nice to have our children involved and learn with us about health, business and the community."

Ellen Brakel studied Marketing and Business at Sheridan College in 1990, and later graduated as a Registered Massage Therapist at the Sutherland Chan Massage & Teaching Institute. She continued to study nutrition, acupuncture and cranial sacral therapy, which works with the natural rhythms of the body to release stress within the body and central nervous system.

Her interest in mindbody healing led to certification in the Nia Technique which uses movement and expression in the self healing process.

Joey Lemieux is a Registered Canadian Reflexology Therapist, Certified Body Reflexologist and Permaculture Designer.

Reflexology uses a form of pressure massage on the reflex points of the feet which correspond to all parts, organs and glands of the body normalizing systems, releasing blocks and helping the body to heal itself.

Similarly, Body Reflexology uses massage to open channels of health on the reflex points of the body. Permaculture is a design system used to work with and integrate the natural patterns, systems and energy flows found in nature, into human environments. It can help determine the best placement of gardens, rain barrels, tree plantings and swimming pools, and implement environmental design strategies that save money and create a relaxing home environment.

Soaring Heart Wellness has been renovated to reflect the tranquility promised by the products and services sold there. Airy, spacious product displays allow the customer to move freely through the store; each area, its own little 'nook' presenting something completely different. The calming, contemplative tones of the young owners' voices echo a kind of understanding that spiritual leaders have been rediscovering and universally encouraging in recent years.

The store offers a full range of health products from gluten-free foods, baby and beauty care, organic juice, supplements and organic bread. "We would like to offer quality products at affordable prices" says Joey. They feature a new line of health supplements made in Guelph called "Now" products. The line includes affordable, quality organic supplements such as vitamins, as well as personal care items, snacks and tea.

The store also offers alternative products for diabetics, environmentally friendly cleaning products, yoga mats, natural fibre clothing, bio-degradable diapers, and a large selection of health and inspirational books.

Customers can also sit, relax and enjoy frozen yogurts, smoothies, gluten free snacks, and organic tea and coffee made with alkaline water. The water purifier used there returns the water molecules to the original hexagonal form found in nature but destroyed by municipal systems, allowing for 100% absorption of minerals in the body.

The owners say they hope "that anyone coming into the store will be able to find something to inspire them towards better health. We would like to create a community place that fosters health and well-being."

One of the ways they hope to achieve this is by offering holistic education and therapies such as Zen Yoga, Reflexology, Reiki and Cranial-Sacral Massage Therapy.

Both trained in Zen Yoga, Ellen and Joey explain that it brings together the techniques of Qi Gong, Zen Meditation, Tai-Chi and Shanti Yoga into a "gentle but challenging holistic therapy." Currently, Yoga classes are scheduled for Wednesday mornings from 9 to 10. Restorative Yoga classes will be offered on Monday and Thursday mornings. Future classes will include Tai chi, Qigong and Reiki Healing, as well as other featured health and spiritual wellness courses. Ellen and Joey also offer Zen Yoga from their home studio in Primrose on Tuesday evenings from 7 to 8.

"Our main philosophy for health and wellness," they say, "is that everyone's body has a boundless capacity for self healing if the right elements are provided. Given fresh air, through the environment around us and proper breathing techniques, whole foods that are vital and nutritious, clean water, and a loving attitude, our mind becomes calm, our body becomes balanced and our spirit is not so burdened."